On the surface, social media may seem like business as usual, but many of your favorite social media sites are rolling out new features that you need to try. Some rumors are flying about Facebook ads, Twitter is getting chatty, and there’s a smart phone notification you shouldn’t ignore. Here’s a look at what you might’ve missed in social media news this week!
Facebook Allegedly Expanding Ads
Private notes from your friends aren’t the only thing you’ll soon be seeing on your Facebook Messenger app, according to a new report by TechCrunch. A document leaked to the tech magazine allegedly lays out what advertisers can expect out of the new ad space. Before the launch, the document suggests businesses should start messaging with consumers now so they’ll be able to send them ads in the future. The rumored feature is expected to reveal itself during the second quarter of this year. When asked for confirmation, Facebook responded with, “We don’t comment on rumor or speculation. That said, our aim with Messenger is to create a high quality, engaging experience for 800 million people around the world, and that includes ensuring people do not experience unwanted messages of any type.” The document allegedly claims that ads won’t be sent to people who simply like a business page, they can only send ads to users who have voluntarily chatted with the business through the app.
Twitter Gives Businesses a Hand
This week, Twitter chirped a new song that is perking the interests of business owners. On Thursday, the micro-blogging site announced a new direct messaging feature, which allows chatty customers to instantly send private messages to businesses. Over the next few weeks, some companies will be allowed to take this tool a step further by sending users private surveys that will rate their brand after a customer service interaction. This is just one of the many new features Twitter is rolling out to improve the overall experience on the social site.
The Notification You Shouldn’t Ignore
Depending on your smart phone settings, you may receive and disregard dozens of notifications a day – but there’s one Facebook alert you shouldn’t shun. This week, the most popular social media site started rolling out a “Privacy Checkup” reminder to all mobile users. The three-step process aims to ensure users are sharing content with the desired audiences. The security checkup takes about one minute to complete and could prevent you from posting embarrassingly personal stuff on the site.
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